Tetrick guides Danae to Oaks victory

The magical season continues for Tim Tetrick. Making his first Hambletonian Oaks start, the driver scored an upset victory in the $750,000 event with sophomore filly Danae. The George Teague trainee earned her third career score and biggest payday with a 1:54.2 performance Saturday.

“It means so much. It’s just a dream come true year,” Tetrick said during a television interview. “She was really good today. I just wanted to make sure she stayed trotting and she closed real well for me.”

Vulcanize and Ron Pierce fired from post nine at the start, setting a :27.3 opening quarter. Favorite Possess The Magic didn’t see the pylons early, racing first over along the backstretch to assume the point before the :56.1 first half. Falls For You, driven by Brian Sears, followed Possess The Magic, and the two fillies engaged in a battle rolling to the three-quarter pole.

Racing into the final turn Pippiwhitestockngs swept three-wide for Yannick Gingras and appeared poised for victory, but the sophomore broke stride in the stretch. Danae, at odds of 11-1, and Tetrick were there to pick up the pieces. The duo crossed the wire first, followed by Resortful. Sing Me To Sleep finished third.

Danae was bred by Fredericka Caldwell and is owned by Rodney Mitchell Inc. and Teague Inc. Winless in three previous starts this year, the Andover Hall filly finished second in her Hambletonian Oaks elim to Falls For You.

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